3D Realms: 2K had another Duke game

Apogee Software (parent of 3D Realms) has revealed that Take-Two (under label 2K Games) was working on a separate Duke Nukem game called Duke Begins.

The project was to be finished by mid-2010 and worked on by a "well-known developer", according to paperwork on Voodoo Extreme, but work was suspended in April 2009.

Take-Two, 3D Realms alleges, did this to restrict the developer's income. With no money from game sales, 3D Realms would be unable to pay back the USD 2.5m advance from October 2007, when the Duke Begins agreement was penned. This, 3D Realms explains, would allow Take-Two to swoop in and acquire the Duke Nukem rights at a fraction of their worth.

The paperwork goes on to reveal that over USD 20m of 3D Realms' money was poured into the development of Duke Nukem Forever, which ground to a halt in May. Halo 3 only cost USD 30m, says VE - and that was funded by the publisher.